Women Make the 
Woman And The 
L IKE a very large proportion of the rest of the world, 
we are only waiting now for Christmas to be over, 
in order to have an opportunity to “ do something.” In 
the meantime, however, we, like the rest, are as busy as 
possible in getting ready for Christmas, and from now till 
the great holiday we shall have a due proportion of Christ¬ 
mas matter. * * * 
One fact with regard to fancy work will be especially 
gratifying to those who cannot paint, or do finely shaded 
embroidery. The tendency toward the use of bold patterns 
outlined with button-holing, rope silk, tinsel, or silk cord, 
has taken full possession of the field. A very large propor¬ 
tion of the newer work is done in this style; or the elegant 
plushes or handsome figured goods are used without much 
attempt at ornamentation. This makes it much easier for 
those not especially skilled with brush and needle to 
fashion gifts after the approved sort, though possibly 
materials cost more to begin with. 
* # * 
Possibly no Englishwoman of title possesses so much 
interest for American women, or so well deserves the 
respect and affection with which they regard her, as the 
one lately come among us, known as Lady Henry Somer¬ 
set. Lady Henry’s visit to this country was with the 
definite object of attending the first World’s W. C. T. U., 
meeting, which is at the present writing (November 16) 
being held in conjunction with our own National W. C. T. 
U. convention at Tremont Temple, Boston, where she was 
to speak. She has already spoken before overflowing 
houses in New York and Chicago. At her first appear¬ 
ance and introduction to the audience at Tremont Temple, 
the white ribboners’ greeting, “ a sea of waving ’kerchiefs,” 
was given by the delegations in turn; the sight is prettier 
than one who has not seen it can imagine. 
* * * 
Miss Willard characterizes Lady Henry Somerset as 
‘‘strong and sweet, and winsome,” and the portrait which 
Harper’s Bazar gives of her, fully supports this testimony, 
as far as appearance goes. Miss Willard says also that 
she is “ a philanthropist with a head so level, a heart so 
mellow and a face so kind,” as to win the love of every 
one. Her life is given entirely to the work of uplifting the 
poor in the mission districts of London, and to furthering 
the cause of temperance. 
* * * 
No friend of temperance in England doubts that Lady 
Henry Somerset was divinely called to her work, as she 
was a popular, wealthy and talented votary of London 
fashionable society, for whom no one would have predicted 
anything but the veriest froth of life. Yet, just at the 
time when the British Temperance Society was about to 
lose its most devoted worker and president by death, Lady 
Henry Somerset left the brilliant social world, retired 
quietly to her Eastnor Castle, and after weeks of medita¬ 
tion came forth to offer her consecrated life to the work 
which had such urgent need of just such a leader. It is 
not necessary to say that the Influence of a woman of her 
rank has been boundless, and so thorough is her union of 
principle and practice that she yearly opens her own house 
and grounds as a “ Fresh Air” home for London waifs. 
Here is practical Christianity, and it is no wonder that 
love and admiration for this woman grow apace, wherever 
she becomes known _ 
-PARTNERSHIP ON THE FARM. 
ARTNERSHIP,” it is sometimes said, ‘‘is the 
worst ship in which a man ever sailed; ” and this, 
no doubt, many times proves true, for there are certain 
conditions which must exist, and certain principles which 
must dominate every such alliance in order that harmony 
may prevail, and that the success which is the aim of every 
such effort may be achieved. 
In a partnership which is designed to be mutual and 
equal, should one of the parties arrogate to himself entire 
control of the business, it would give just cause for com¬ 
plaint on the part of the other ; and should he appropriate 
more than his just share of the proceeds, the result would 
be discord, if not disruption of the firm. Such a partner¬ 
ship can be dissolved by due process of law, with perhaps 
only temporary derangement of business; but there are 
partnerships whose obligations are life-long, cemented 
with a solemn vow, “ for better or for worse, till death do 
us part,” and it is of these and especially of those whose 
contract is fulfilled under the condition of toil both indoors 
and out, which life on the farm necessarily imposes, that 
I wish to speak. 
It is not too much to say that there is no other occupa¬ 
tion in which men and women are engaged, whose work, 
and cares, and responsibilities fall with such nearly equal 
weight on the husband and wife, as do those of farming. 
In cities, in the homes of the rich, no matter how arduous 
the struggles of the husband to acquire and heap up 
wealth, the wife is provided with servants, and nothing 
more than a general supervision of the household is ex¬ 
pected from her—many times not even that. In the home 
of the mechanic, the household duties, the care of the 
children, and not infrequently the family sewing, devolve 
upon the wife, but she is exempt from many carts which 
come to the presiding genius of the farm house, like those 
of the dairy, the poultry, and, many times, the vegetable 
garden. 
Besides, the markets of the towns and cities furnish 
many of the household supplies nearly ready for the table, 
as canned and desiccated fruits and vegetables as well as 
meats and fish. These modern conveniences materially 
lessen the work, where they can be made available ; but 
the wife of the farmer cans the fruit, dries the apples and 
sweet corn, renders the lard, makes the sausage, and super¬ 
intends the curing of meat, not only for her own house¬ 
hold, but frequently for a surplus which helps to supply 
the markets of the towns, and the necessity for these de¬ 
tails exists in the very nature of the occupation. Coopera¬ 
tive housekeeping, so much dreamed of and planned for by 
our sisters in the towns, can never come to the relief of 
isolated farm houses. 
Economy and thrift are no less necessary indoors than 
out; the same way be said of long hours of toil, and close 
application. The old couplet, 
Man works from sun to sun , 
But woman's work Is never done, 
may not be entirely true, for 1 ween there are many farms 
in this land where the outside work often commences be¬ 
fore the day king appears, and closes not till long after his 
retiring. But, however long the hours of out door labor, 
the mother and housekeeper is usually the first out of bed 
and the last to retire. 
Woman is a business partner in all that pertains to 
work, and care, and economy in connection with the farm. 
She performs all the duties which belong to her individual 
part of the firm, and on the performance of which no less 
depends the financial success of the business than upon the 
out-door work. But here, alas, on too many farms, and 
in too many homes, the businsss copartnership ceases. In 
how many cases is the wife obliged to go to the husband 
and bey for money to supply the needs of herself and 
family; to beg for that which as justly belongs to her as 
to him, and which she has earned by her labor. Are there 
not many houses in which the wife for all her care and 
work does not receive half as much pay as would serve to 
keep a domestic? True, there are many instances where a 
young couple are just starting out in life, trying by dint 
of hard woik and close economy to procure for themselves 
a home, where even the wages of a hiied girl could not be 
spared, but rare indeed lathe instance in which the young 
woman is not just as willing to economize, even to scrimp 
in order to save, as is the young man, her husband. 
Men have sometimes expensive habits, and, although 
the weekly amount expended to gratify them may seem 
small, yet, if an account is made of all the cigars or tobacco 
purchased, (we will say nothing about beer or something 
stronger, for indulgence in these is a vice of the town, of 
which we all know, farmers are never guilty), the amount 
at the end of the year, will astonish the purchaser. Would 
it not be a manifest justice if the wife were allowed an 
equal amount for her own personal adornment, or to pur¬ 
chase something which would help to make the home more 
beautiful and attractive, and would It not be as great a 
source of pleasure to the family as when blown away in 
smoke, or expectorated on the ground? We frequently 
read of large farms in the West, where the wife in the ab¬ 
sence of the husband can look after the details of the farm, 
the superintendance of the hired men, the purchase of 
tools If necessary, and even the sale of stock. These af¬ 
fairs ought not ordinarily to belong to her, since she has 
already the care of the house and the family, but it is well 
when necessity requires, that she should have had an op¬ 
portunity and encouragement to attain the efficiency 
needful for such an emergency. Were I In some other lo¬ 
cality, I might refer, without seeming personal, to a nota¬ 
ble instance of this kind, where the presiding genius of the 
house is abundantly capable in the absence of the hus¬ 
band and son, to look after the details of a large stock 
farm. mbs. w. c. gi*ford. 
New York. 
FOR THE HOME CHRISTMAS. 
HERE are some persons who have little skill with the 
brush or pencil, and it may be, neither the time nor 
the aptitude for embroidery or other needlework of the 
finer sorts. Yet they can set dainty, and, if need be, 
Invisible stitches, and very likely can choose and com¬ 
bine harmonizing shades and colors as by Instinct. They 
would like, too, to put into their Christmas gifts some 
work of their own. To such, the articles I describe are 
especially recommended. Other colors and indeed mater¬ 
ials, may often be substituted for those here named, though 
usually the fabric mentioned has peculiar fitness for the 
use to which it is applied. They suit best the home Christ¬ 
mas, as they are nearly all for household use or decoration ; 
but, gracefully given and with the apt and cheery message 
that ought to accompany all tokens, they may be a help in 
matching with one’s list of friends, as many appropriate 
and serviceable gifts. 
Crocheted Scrap Bag.— This is done in slipper stitch, 
and the ground is cardinal, with a Roman stripe. It is 
made by crocheting a strip 20 inches wide and 42 Inches 
long. About five rows from either end occurs the double 
Roman stripe, two rows of each color, in the following 
order: olive, green, pink, black, old gold, cardinal, pale 
blue, olive again, white and yellow; repeat backwards. 
The other end of the crocheted strip is precisely the same, 
all the intermediate rows being cardinal. The strips may 
be sewed together with cardinal wool, having been folded 
once lengthwise. A small aperture near the ends is lett for 
the hand. One end is sewed together flat, and edged with 
scallops crocheted of the cardinal. The other is drawn up 
into a round point and is finished with cords of the car¬ 
dinal, and large ball tassels of all the colors. The bag is 
drawn through a heavy brass ring, which serves to sus¬ 
pend it by. The material is Saxony. 
Homes Make the 
Home. 
Bed-Scarf or Foot-Puff.— This is to be laid across the 
foot of a bed, either for adornment or comfort, or for both. 
It is especially pretty made of pale blue bunting. The 
scarf should be about two yards long, and may be 31 inches 
wide, requiring 1>£ width of bunting or cashmere. The 
piecing should come on the wrong side. The waddiog 
should be heavy, and one side-edge of the puff requires no 
sewing. The other and the ends should be securely bind- 
stitched. The tackings are done with white and yellow, 
and are about seven inches apart. The ends are prettily 
finished with a quilling made of four-inch widths of the 
goods, cut bias, raveled about one inch deep. This frill 
is laid in box-plaits, which should come on the inside when 
on, and is then doubled not quite in the middle, so that 
more of the fringing will show on the right side, and sewed 
on, inside, in the crease. 
Muslin Scarf.— This may serve as bureau cover, 
splasher, or picture-drape, and is equally dainty for any 
one of these uses. The only materials required are one 
yard of spotted muslin, the same quantity of pink cambric 
and some olive-green embroidery silk. The muslin has 
an inch wide hem at either end, and one a trifle narrower 
at the sides. The cambric is hemmed also. At each end 
of the muslin ; the discs in a triangular section of the mus¬ 
lin are worked over with the olive silk. A basting thread 
may serve to indicate the triangle, which has its base at 
the end of the scarf. In the middle of the length is a 
smaller, less pointed triaDgle, running from one side, 
treated in the same way. A few invisible stitches hold 
scarf and lining together. 
Dust Bag of Scrim.— This is very dainty, inexpensive 
and simple in its construction. One-third of a yard of 
open-work scrim is required, the bag being about 12 Inches 
wide, the stripes of the muslin running across it. The 
scrim is folded in the center of the length (i. e. the 
width of the scrim) and through the bars on one side, 
where the pattern of the scrim allows, is run narrow yellow 
ribbon. There will probably be only two spaces which 
can be so finished, allowing perhaps four rows in each of 
the spaces. The bag is lined with white cambric, for 
stiffness and to allow the duster to be removed more read¬ 
ily, and the outside and lining are fastened together by 
infrequent side stitches just within the edge. The sides 
of the bag are sewed together, save that near the bottom 
or side a space is left to put in the duster. This article is 
of double cheese-cloth. It is a half-yard square, and cross- 
stitched around the edge with yellow or blue tambour 
cotton. The dust bag is gathered up loosely two or three 
inches from the top; and is hung by a yellow ribbon, a 
yard in length, arranged in a long loop at the back and a 
small bow at the front, where the bag is drawn up. 
The Prettiest Handkerchief Case.— We had multi¬ 
plications, repetitions, and variations of these cases, but 
one made after this fashion, though not the newest, is the 
prettiest thing of this sort I have ever seen. It is very 
simply made, consisting only of a strip of firm yellow 
surah, one-fourth of a yard wide and about 16 inches long, 
lined with a similar piece of white satin. The edges are 
neatly blind-stitched, and one end is fringed. Measure 
six Inches from the unfringed end, and fold over on the 
right side to form the case, catching the sides together 
slightly. For a ‘‘ lap, ” fold over the mouth of the case 
the other end, drawn up just above the fringe by a ribbon 
passed about it and tied in a bow. White satin ribbon, 
a half yard of it, and an inch and a half wide, gives the 
best effect. 
Sofa Pillow.— This may be filled with down, feathers 
or even good excelsior. The outer covering is about 18 
inches square, and is of fine ecru tinted canvas, finished 
with a two-inch frilL The decoration, on one side only, 
consists of three large appliqu6 flowers, of a rather con¬ 
ventional shape. In each there are 11 petals, tapering, of 
course, and about three inches long. These petals may be 
cut from olive green velvet or plush, and felled on, and 
their edges are hidden and outlined by tinsel, or by a 
yellow cord caught on with tiny stitches. The centers of 
the flowers, which are rather large of course, are filled in 
with French knots, done with coarse yellow silk. 
OLIVE E. DANA. 
Cod-liver oil suggests consumption; 
which is almost unfortunate. Its best 
use is before you fear consumption— 
when you begin to get thin. Consump¬ 
tion is only one of the dangers of thinness. 
Scott’s Emulsion cf cod-liver oil makes 
the thin plump, and the plump are almost 
safe. 
Let us send you a book on careful 
living— free. _ 
Scott & Bowse, Chemists, 132 South 5th Avenue, New York. 
Your druggist keeps Scott’s Emulsion of cod-liver oil—all druggists 
everywhere do. tl. 
